Vinyl top repair

chry73luv

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I wanted to know if anybody here has ever done repairs under the vinyl top by peeling the vinyl back,doing the repair then regluing the top down. I have some bubbling on the lower c pillar and I mean toward the edge of where the vinyl and the painted body meet. Seems ashame to replace the whole top because it is in great shape.Thought I would get some feedback before attempting it.This is on a 2 dr 73 Chrysler Newport.
 
I had it done at the bottom edge of my '78 New Yorker St Regis Coupe. From what I have seen when the holes were drilled to fasten the molding there was no priming of the metal where the hole was drilled. My body man did the repair on both sides. I did the grunt work.
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How bad was the rust? I've walked away from a couple of Formals because of "water stained" headliners.
 
What you cannot see...you can double or triple the damage underneath.
Once you start peeling the vinyl back it may not go back on.
You czn do a patch job but to do it right pull the top off and possibly the back window, asess the damage and repair from there.
Epoxy prime the roof, scuff it with 120 grit then install a new top.
It is a pain in the butt but after redoing 2 C vinyl tops worth the end results.
Hope this helps.
 
How bad was the rust? I've walked away from a couple of Formals because of "water stained" headliners.
Where were the water stains located? I have those on my headliner but they are near the front driver's side and passenger's side doors, so I just presumed it was from a weather stripping leak and not rust.
Thanks,
77newyorker440
 
^^ And around the rear back glass....1974 Imperial coupe and a '77 NYB coupe same areas.
 
It's certainly worth a try to save the top. The rust has to be fixed, so you have no choice but to address it. I would get the car out in the sun and let it heat up as much as possible. Some additional heat from a hair dryer or heat gun may be needed.

I was able to peel the top back on this '67 Newport in order to clean up some rust around the rear window.

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These guys rolled back the vinyl on this Lincoln and just left it attached in a small area before painting it.

lincoln paint job.JPG


Jeff
 
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